Most bariatric operations have very low rates of morbidity and mortality and are among the more commonly performed operations in the USA. Weight loss surgery remains the most effective treatment for moderate to severe obesity and resolution of obesity-related comorbidities. According to the National Center for Health Statistics, non-Hispanic African American women are the most at-risk group, followed by Hispanic, non-Hispanic whites, and Asian women. Obesity does not affect all racial and ethnic groups equally. More than one-third of the US adult population meets the criteria for a diagnosis of obesity. Obesity is the most prevalent chronic disease and a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the USA. Specific causes of these disparities are beyond the limitations of the dataset and stand as a topic for future inquiry. No significant differences were found with other races. Hispanic patients have higher odds of a Grade 3 complication compared with White patients. Conclusionīlack patients have higher odds of readmission and multiple grades of complications (including death) compared with White patients.
The odds of a Grade 3 complication for Hispanic patients were higher compared with White patients (OR = 1.59, p < 0.0001). ResultsĪ total of 212,970 patients were included in the regression analyses.
Adjusted logistic and multinomial regressions were used to examine the relationships between race and 30-day complications categorized by the Clavien-Dindo grading system. Study DesignĪdult laparoscopic primary bariatric procedures were queried from the 20 MBSAQIP registry. Racial disparities in postoperative complications have been demonstrated in bariatric surgery, yet the relationship of race to complication severity is unknown.